What Is Better About the PS4 Pro?

With the release of the PS5, a lot of people have been asking if it is still worth getting a PS4 Pro and want to know what some of the good things about the PS4 Pro are that make it worth looking at.

Let’s face it, the PS5 is still the all-around better console, but the PS4 Pro still has some redeeming qualities about it that make it an outstanding system, and it should not be overlooked as a gaming console. So, in this article, I will be checking out some of the better aspects of the PS4 Pro.

Related Post: Is it Worth Getting a PS4 Pro?

What are the specs of the PS4 Pro?

These are the specs of the PS4 Pro.

How Does the PS4 Pro Compare to the PS4

On a side-by-side basis, both the PS4 and the PS4 Pro may seem similar, but they are two wildly different consoles. The PS4 Pro is a massive upgrade on the PS4, and while it is a big upgrade on the PS4, it is also majorly a tweak on the successful formula of the PS4.

So, while it may not be a rebuild from the ground up, it is a renovation and a slight rebuild on what was an already excellent foundation established with the PS4. These tweaks can be seen all over the console, from its internals to its controllers and even in its performance.

Internals

If you look closely at the internals of the PS4 Pro, you will find out it is very closely related to the PS4 but still more powerful. They both have the same all-AMD processor architecture, but the output gained by the PS4 Pro is way better than the PS4. So, while they may both have the same AMD Jaguar x86-64 8-core CPU, the PS4 Pro has seen a 30% boost in performance, pushing it from the 1.6GHz seen on the base model PS4 to 2.1GHz.

The GPU has also seen some of the tweaking magic that the engineers at Sony have begun to produce. This is why it can hit the incredibly high 4K resolutions so easily. Even though it still has the same eight cores as the previous model PS4, it has been able to get more out of AMD’s Polaris architecture. Thus, allowing the console to hit 4.2 TFLOPS as opposed to the 2.1 TFLOPS the base model PS4 was able to see. All of these boosts in power are reflected in its superior performance over the PS4.

Performance

The PS4 Pro’s main selling point is its seamless integration with 2160P or 4K gaming. All of this is made possible by the advanced techniques in programs that developers have been able to implement due to the power of the PS4 Pro. Techniques such as super-sampling enable the PS4 Pro to produce native 4K images by rendering improved graphics and frame rates on older games.

Or checkerboard rendering, which allows the PS4 to scale up images in a diagonal pattern to allow the PS4 Pro to render the missing images to a native 4K resolution, are all techniques that the base model PS4 could not achieve due to its power output limitations.

This makes for a lot of games with extremely beautiful graphics on the PS4 Pro that can not be found on the PS4, and when HDR is engaged, the images on the screen all pop with definite and intense colours with a High Dynamic Range. 

While the PS4 can handle HDR images, as the HDR capabilities are dependent on the TV, the PS4 Pro can colour grade the images faster, and when paired with an upscaled 4K image, the graphical fidelity is way better than the PS4. However, all these benefits gained from 4K gaming can only be achieved when using a 4K TV.

What Are the Benefits of Gaming with the PS4 Pro?

The PS4 Pro is a very solid gaming console, and it has a lot of impressive benefits, like;

•  The ability to play games in 4K.
•  HDD can be upgraded to an SSD.
•  Higher graphical fidelity.
• Slightly faster loading.
•  A 1TB HDD.
•   Improved overall performance.

These are some of the main benefits that can be gained from gaming on a PS4 Pro console. All of which transform the gaming experience into a next-level immersive experience.

What Games Are Available on the PS4 Pro?

The PS4 Pro has a very large library of games, including all the games released on the PS4. This is because there are no PS4 Pro exclusive games, so you don’t need to look for any games specific to the PS4 Pro. All games that work on the PS4 will work on the Pro version. This is because the PS4 Pro is still a PS4 and is not an entirely different console.

So, games like Spiderman PS4, God of War 2018, The Horizon games, Ratchet and Clank, Bloodborne, Final Fantasy VII, and even the latest Resident Evil 4 Remake will work on both the PS4 and the PS4 Pro. So, rest assured that you have a lot of games to play on your PS4 Pro

How Does the PS4 Pro Improve Upon the PS4?

The PS4 Pro improves on the PS4 in three main places, performance, graphics, and storage, as well as design. The PS4 Pro outperforms the PS4 in many quantifiable metrics. From GHz to TFLOPS. The Pro is hands down the stronger performer. It can be overclocked at 2.1GHz instead of the 1.6GHz that the PS4 can reach.

It also has a far superior performing GPU reaching an impressive 4.2 TFLOPS, while the PS4 can only reach 2.1 TFLOPS, and all of this is still being done on the same eight cores as the PS4. This proves that the PS4 Pro is by far the more efficient of the two consoles. It also has way better graphics than the PS4, and it is all down to the power it can produce. This is why the console can render games at a 4K resolution.

It also has more storage than the base model PS4, which has 500GB of storage, while the Pro has a massive 1TB hard drive. It also improves upon the older PS4’s design by making it larger, adding an extra layer, making it all matte black, and doing away with all the straight edges, opting for more curved edges.

What New Features Does the PS4 Pro Offer?

Some of the main features of the PS4 Pro are;

Resolution

• On an HD TV, game resolution ranges from 1080p to 1440p.
• The resolution of games can be increased to nearly 4K using improved upscaling methods.
• Certain games can output a native 2160p resolution on the PS4 Pro.

Graphics

• With better focus, distant background objects become more visible and detailed.
• Images with rounded corners and other soft features appear more realistic and smooth.
• Smoke and steam, for example, have a heavier appearance and a more authentic feel.
• HDR; HDR evens out game lighting, improves colour, and brings screens closer to the full spectrum that the human eye can see.

Is the PS4 Pro Worth the Extra Money?

This is a very dependent and personal question, and there is no one right answer. If you can afford it, then you should surely go for it. However, the PS5 is also available, so if you can get one, whether it is a scalped one or one you waited in line for, then go for it. If you don’t have a 4K TV and you don’t plan on getting one, you might want to go for the base model PS4.

However, you also run the risk of not being future-proof because, if the botched release of Cyberpunk 2077 is anything to go by, it is harder to go by. Developers are beginning to find it difficult to make games for the PS4 and PS5. Seeing as how the PS4 Pro is more powerful than the PS4, you are more likely to avoid some of the issues caused by a careless developer. Finally, if you have a PS4, you might as well get the PS5 and stay away from the Pro. This is a very loaded question, and the answer is very dependent on the situation you find yourself in.

Conclusion

The PS4 Pro is a very cool console, but it suffers from being in the middle of two life cycles on both the PS4 and the PS5. It may be better than the older PS4, but it is not as good as the PS5, so it is hard to discern where to put it. However, if you are itching to get your hands on a new console and you are finding it hard to get a PS5, then might I suggest the PS4 Pro? To be honest, it is not a bad system; it is just a victim of circumstance.

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References: Sony PS4 Console.